What good are price guides on antiques when people won't pay those prices

The old saying 'something is only worth what someone will pay for it' is so true.
I run a free antiques appraisal blog, & what I do is give prices on what I think things will reach at a reasonably well attended & well advertised competitive auction.
As far as price guides go, what they do is get an average around the country of what the ASKING price is for certain items.
You can ASK whatever u want, but what u get is the only thing that counts.
My source site is my antiques appraisal site called What is it Worth & anyone is welcome to submit a free online appraisal request.

The problem is that too many people watch the antiques roadshow and think they are sitting on a fortune. The fact that alot of the people on there DONT have anything valuable never desuades them.

They all use buzzwords too..Shabby Chic is my favorite.lol means that it may be old and in bad shape but MAY be worth something someday.lol

Like that one guy said. Something is only as valuable as someone is willing to pay.

Price guides are just that guides. Price also depends on location, market, availability of similar items, etc. Also a higher price can be asked if item is placed in a store rather than sold on e-bay or by an individual.

You are equating Ebay with Retail pricing. Ebay is a buyer is market. They set the end price, not the seller. In antique shops the seller sets the price, and the price books go by that.

I've noticed that, too. The antiques market is really weird right now. Real, high-quality antiques r getting harder & harder to find (Katrina did not help!). I do not know if it has anything to do with it, but dealers seem to be pushing toward ''vintage'' items which r more mid-century. It is driving up the price of newer ''junk & down the price of the antiques that do not fit that ''look''.

I also think Ebay has just shot the market to Hades. Instead of people having to travel all over to find what they were looking for, now they can just sit at home & buy/sell it. Things r coming out of the woodwork from new sources as people realize they have a family heirloom that is worth something. All this new competition drives the prices down.
The advantages of being a local dealer r the savings on shipping costs (especially if u can offer delivery service on large items) & quality. Potential buyers can inspect the pieces in person & see what they r really getting, & they have access to personal customer service. Thumbnails on Ebay wo not get u that. I suppose if u r a buyer trying to get ur ''book price those r some negotiating points u could use.

I agree with you. I have a beautiful, antique walker-spinning wheel from the 1800 is that--according to an appraiser from Country Living magazine--is worth between 325 and 350 dollars. But actual dealers that I have approached say they will give me only $100 and tag it for $200. I am keeping it.

Because on Ebay, you are selling to dealers, who will turn it around to private buyers for nearly book value. They are not going to pay YOU book value.

A good starting point is 50 of the book value.

The truth of the matter is - It is only worth what someone will pay you for it.

Cant pay the rent with glassware and pottery.

have u tried kovals books